Paralympics sailor: 'My disability is a gift'

By Sheena McKenzie for CNN

Updated 10:40 AM ET, Thu August 23, 2012

U.S. Paralympic sailor Paul Callahan eyes gold3 photos

Paralympics 2012 – Paralympian Paul left his Wall Street job to take over Sail to Prevail - an organization which teaches disabled children to sail. From eight children a year, the charity, based in Newport, Rhode Island, now helps around 1,000 youngsters annually.

Hide Caption

1 of 3

U.S. Paralympic sailor Paul Callahan eyes gold3 photos

Paralympics 2012 – Paul, left, competes in the three-person sailing event at the Sydney Paralympics in 2000. The U.S. failed to win a medal, but gold is on the cards at London 2012 Callahan says.

Hide Caption

2 of 3

U.S. Paralympic sailor Paul Callahan eyes gold3 photos

Paralympics 2012 – Paul became a quadriplegic after slipping on a wet floor and breaking his neck as a 21-year-old. He was paralyzed from the chest down, keeping the use of his arms, but not his hands.

Hide Caption

3 of 3

Story highlights

Quadriplegic Paul Callahan will represent the U.S. in sailing at Paralympics

Broke his neck in freak accident when he was a 21-year-old undergrad at Harvard

Went on to graduate from business school and work on Wall Street for 15 years

Now CEO of Sail to Prevail, a sailing school for disabled children

Not many people would see quadriplegia as a gift. But then, not many people are Paul Callahan.

As a 21-year-old Harvard University student, Paul's life was full of possibility. An undergraduate studying business at one of the best universities in the world, there was a lot to look forward to for the young man from Massachusetts.

Then a freak accident changed everything. Paul slipped on a wet floor, breaking his neck and rendering him paralyzed from the chest down. He retained the use of his arms, but not his hands.

Callahan spent the next five years traveling to rehabilitation centers across the United States in search of a way to walk again. When a doctor finally suggested it was time to concentrate on living instead of walking, Paul did exactly that.

From starting with eight children a year, the charity, based in Newport, Rhode Island, now helps around 1,000 youngsters annually.

Their disabilities vary from spinal cord injuries to autism, and Paul says when he races for gold next month, it'll be for them.

"When we get on the starting line against 14 other countries, I want to win a gold medal just as much as they do -- but I've got an additional motivation," he said.

"The better my team does, the more powerful impact it will have for Sail to Prevail."

The gift

It is perhaps a testament to Paul's mental strength that he views his disability as a special opportunity in life.

"I've been given an extraordinary gift where I can affect people's lives in ways other people can't. So I see it as a responsibility," he said.

There have been some dark moments Paul admits. But with his wife, Alisa, 9-year-old twin sons and the Paralympics on the horizon, what's the point in dwelling on that instant he slipped on a wet floor?

"I've been very fortunate," he said, adding: "You've only got a limited amount of time in life. So you may as well choose to put that towards positive effort, rather than squandering it on the negative."